Critics' Choice Awards 2016 winners list

Just days after members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences made their picks for the best films of 2015, the critics had their say in the matter. On Sunday night in Santa Monica, California, the 21st annual Critics’ Choice Awards were handed out to honor the best in film and television.

This year, that meant Spotlight and Mad Max: Fury Road. Tom McCarthy’s drama about the Boston Globe reporting team who uncovered decades of sex abuse within the Catholic Church was named best picture, one of three awards it won on Sunday night. (Spotlight was also victorious in the best ensemble and best original screenplay categories.)

But it was George Miller’s blockbuster that was the night’s big winner. After scoring an impressive 10 nominations from the Academy Awards on Thursday, Mad Max: Fury Road won nine awards from critics, including best director (for Miller), best action movie, and best actor and actress in an action movie (Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy, respectively).

Other notable selections on Sunday night: The Big Short (best comedy, best adapted screenplay, and best comedy actor for Christian Bale), and Amy Schumer (MVP Award, best comedy actress for Trainwreck).